Pat Taub
GUEST POST by JACOB WATSON
At 80, I’ve come to appreciate that the most important component of life is the spiritual realm.
I was awakened to this realization through my work with the late Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. She taught us that the spiritual quadrant is an equal part of the four quadrants (intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual) that describe the fundamental model of health. To access the spiritual, Kubler-Ross would begin her workshops, where for three days and nights, participants were guided in expressing physical problems, natural emotions, and intellectual hopes.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross lecturing on the four quadrants
When the other quadrants have run their course, the pathways of spiritual companionship provide openings into the spiritual realm.
Often it is a life crisis such as a serious illness, death of a loved one, or encountering the depths of depression and anxiety that precipitates a deep spiritual crisis. Questions that frequently emerge during this time are: “Who am I? What gives my life meaning? How can I access my spiritual side? How can I create spiritual practices?”
Grief can offer an opening to one’s spiritual side
Spiritual companionship addresses these questions. It is a gift to self to create the space and time to open and explore the spiritual quadrant. This could mean developing new spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and journaling to develop the revelation that you are a spiritual being.
Meditation is a common spiritual practice for many
Sometimes when looking for the spiritual realm we project meaning onto dear friends, or even a little two-year old, who perhaps is an “old soul.” Sometimes it is an elderly woman resplendent with wisdom.
Everything you project onto the other is you. You absolutely would not even recognize it in any ‘other’ if you, yes, you, did not have at least a seed of that quality in you. It’s likely of course that you have not only the seed, but with a little water, you would be the flower.
Opening to this spiritual companion, which is not projected out there, but alive and available within you, means everything. It means that you are divine. You are all the qualities you often project out onto people you like, and onto the divine.
We can pray and meditate with good outcomes. But bad stuff happens. If not in our own lives today, there’s tomorrow, along with all the suffering in the world, like in Ukraine or Palestine.
Global warming, which is causing record wildfires, is a frequent source of anxiety for many
A key for managing our turbulent times in located within your spiritual quadrant.
It’s what we can’t access with our five senses, or our friends or our phone. This is, for me, my internalized spiritual companion who is always available, 24/7, rain or shine, if I can only remember. Then I remember that I am not alone, but accompanied, not lonely but befriended and beloved.
Friends are important, who can listen to our spiritual concerns, to our soul, to give it another name. But friends aren’t often available at 3 a.m. Or they drop off, or even die. Then what? It can be helpful to have a human spiritual companion: someone who will listen to your aching spirit.
When we open to the spiritual, we realize that the spiritual is not just out there, that the spiritual is already inside you. It’s your essence, your spiritual self. It can be a glorious journey home to your true self.
Jacob Watson is an interfaith minister, author and spiritual teacher. He is the founding Abbot of the Interfaith Chaplaincy Institute of Maine, and has written three spiritual books, including Essence: The Emotional Path to Spirit. His recorded meditations and children’s stories are available on Insight Timer. Jacob provides Spiritual Companionship, individual meetings – in his home office sanctuary or via Zoom. Email: jacobw@gwi.net
